LeBron James and NFL players like Michael Thomas and Richard Sherman reacted Wednesday to Drew Brees’ national anthem comments that taking a knee is “disrespecting the flag.”
It all started after the New Orleans Saints star QB was asked about what he would think about players kneeling during the national anthem again when the season starts, in regards to Colin Kaepernick’s protest a few years ago, in response to the death of George Floyd. (RELATED: David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football)
“Well I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country,” Brees explained.
WATCH:
Highlight: @readdanwrite asks @drewbrees what the star NFL quarterback thinks about “players kneeling again when the NFL season starts.”@drewbrees: “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.”
Full exchange: pic.twitter.com/MpCkFyOMed
— Yahoo Finance (@YahooFinance) June 3, 2020
He went on to share what he feels when the national anthem is playing and he puts his hand over his heart. (RELATED: Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct On Fire After Officers Evacuate Building Amid George Floyd Riots)
“I envision my two grandfathers who fought for this country during World War II, one in the army and one in the marine corps,” the QB said. “Both risking their lives to protect the country and to make our country and this world a better place.”
Shortly after the interview surfaced, LeBron James tweeted that, “WOW MAN!! Is it still surprising at this point. Sure isn’t! You literally still don’t understand why Kap [Kaepernick] was kneeling on one knee??”
WOW MAN!! Is it still surprising at this point. Sure isn’t! You literally still don’t understand why Kap was kneeling on one knee?? Has absolute nothing to do with the disrespect of and our soldiers(men and women) who keep our land free. My father-in-law was one of those https://t.co/pvUWPmh4s8
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 3, 2020
“Has absolute nothing to do with the disrespect of [flag] and our soldiers(men and women) who keep our land free,” he added. “My father-in-law was one of those.”
Saints Wide receiver Michael Thomas tweeted simply. “he don’t know no better” and “we don’t care if you don’t agree and whoever else how about that,” without specifically naming Brees, per BroBible.
He don’t know no better.
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) June 3, 2020
We don’t care if you don’t agree and whoever else how about that.
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) June 3, 2020
Smh.. Ignorant
— Emmanuel Sanders (@ESanders_10) June 3, 2020
Green Bay Packers QB captioned his post on Instagram, “A few years ago we were criticized for locking arms in solidarity before the game. It has NEVER been about an anthem or a flag. Not then. Not now. Listen with an open heart, let’s educate ourselves, and then turn word and thought into action. #wakeupamerica #itstimeforchange#loveoverfear #solidarity #libertyandjusticeforall #all.”
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He’s beyond lost. Guarantee you there were black men fighting along side your grandfather but this doesn’t seem to be about that. That uncomfortable conversation you are trying to avoid by injecting military into a conversation about brutality and equality is part of the problem https://t.co/ON81UsOWPw pic.twitter.com/HH3EVTIH8p
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) June 3, 2020
Other comments came fellow players like, Philadelphia Eagles defensive backs Jalen Mills and Darius Slay, per PennLive.com.
Damn drew hurt me with that one!!
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) June 3, 2020
He said his piece and shared his opinion now y’all know were he stands time to move on….NEXT
— Jalen Mills (@greengoblin) June 3, 2020
Protesting racism/ police brutality does not equal disrespecting the flag
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) June 3, 2020
Brees is lost mann
— HADDY (@JIHADWARD17) June 3, 2020
@drewbrees SMH. You represent New Orleans Louisiana. Don’t ever forget that! #Bottomofthemap
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) June 3, 2020